Method of dispersing pesticide fluid

ABSTRACT

A method for preventing, controlling and exterminating subterranean termites and the like, employing the pre-existing footing drainage conduit system ordinarily provided adjacent the foundation of a building, said system including a first portion arranged at least partially around the foundation, said first portion containing access openings, and a second conduit portion for discharging fluid from the first portion. In operation, the pesticide fluid is introduced into the first conduit portion -preferably after the second conduit portion has been disabled -for discharge through the access openings thereof to permeate the fill material in which the first conduit portion is contained. If desired, the system may then be drained and the surplus pesticide recovered for re-use.

[ Oct. 14, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A method for preventing, controlling andexterminating subterranean termites and the like, employing thepre-existing footing drainage conduit system ordinarily providedadjacent the foundation of a building, said system including a firstportion arranged at least partially around the foundation, said firstportion containing access openings, and a second conduit portion forMETHOD OF DISPERSING PESTICIDE FLUID Inventor: Harry Brinker, 6305McClean Blvd, Baltimore, Md. 21214 Filed: July 8, 1974 Appl. No.:486,571

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FIG. 2

METHOD OF DISPERSING PESTICIDE FLUID This invention relates generally topest control and specifically to a post-construction method of diffusinga subterranean termite-barrier around the lower portion of thefoundation of an existing dwelling, or other building.

As evidenced by the German Pat. No. 489,679 and the US. Pat. Nos. RE.25,080, 2,842,892, 3,151,746, 3,209,485, 3,513,586 and 3,602,248,various postconstruction methods and structures have been disclosed forthe purpose. Generally, post-construction methods employ specialperipheral installations requiring extensive trenching or multipleperforated-tube driving or the like, some being of general applicabilityand others of limited applicability, but in all known cases employinglittle or no pre-existing common building structure for generaldissemination of the pesticide.

Various disadvantages of prior art post-construction methods and systemswhich are avoided by the present invention include structural weakeningthrough holedrilling in beams, walls, floors and foundations, foundationand sidewalk weakening and shrubbery and treeroot damage throughtrenching, and undesirable distribution of insecticide around structuresat or near ground level. Many of the prior art post-construction methodsrequire expensive apparatus and some employ very high pressures withinbuildings, possibly resulting in injection of insecticide in unforeseenand undesired locations. Patching, reconstruction and refilling areexpensive and often unsightly, particularly in the finished interiors ofbuildings.

In addition to avoiding the above difficulties, it is believed that thepresent invention is more efficient than prior art post-constructionsubterranean termite barrier methods in that it distributes andconcentrates greater quantities of insecticide in a given time atappropriate locations around building foundations, and beneath them.

The present invention is of broad but not unlimited applicability inthat it largely utilizes for pesticide dissemination pre1existingperipheral structure adjacent most but not all buildings, namely, thefooting drainage system which includes a first conduit portioncontaining access openings and arranged about at least a portion of theouter or inner periphery of the foundation, and a second conduit portionfor discharging fluid from the first conduit portion.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide amethod for dispersing fluid pesticide around the foundation of abuilding, including the step of introducing liquid pesticide into thefirst conduit portion for discharge from the access openings, wherebythe pesticide will permeate the porous fill layer and the surroundingsoil.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the second conduitportion is disabled prior to the introduction of pesticide into thefirst conduit portion. In

the situation where the building includes a sump receptacle, a sump pumpand a discharge conduit which cooperate to define the second conduitportion, the sump pump is de-activated to disable the second conduitportion, and the fluid pesticide is introduced into the sump receptaclefor introduction in the reverse direction into the first conduitportion. In a second embodiment of the gravity drainage type, a shutoffvalve is provided for disabling the second conduit section, a standpipebeing connected with the first conduit section or with the sec- 0ndconduit section upstream from said valve for introducing the pesticidetherein. In a third embodiment wherein the second conduit portionnormally affords gravity flow discharge to the first conduit section,the pesticide is introduced into the first section by connecting thepesticide source with the outlet of the second section, whereby thesecond section is disabled and fluid pesticide is supplied into thefirst section in the reverse direction through the second section.According to another embodiment, the second conduit portion is notdisabled, the fluid pesticide being introduced directly into the firstconduit portion under sufficient pressure to cause the fluid pesticideto be discharged from the first conduit portion via the access openingscontained therein.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore readily apparent on examination of the following description,reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation in partial section showing a typicalsump-pumped footing drainage system of the type ordinarily found indwellings and the like, as employed in the method of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation in partial section showing a typical gravitydrainage system around a foundation, with provisions for employment ofthe method of this invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical building foundation wall W supported by afooting F, with a pre-construction footing drainage system 10 around theinner perimeter of the wall having provision for draining to a typicalsump 12 at the low point, from which water collected is pumped away bysump pump P.

Typically, a float control C starts and stops the pump and the sump pumpexhausts through a line 26 into a dry-well, storm drain or the like.

The drainage system includes a first conduit portion having a drainagebed 14, usually of crushed stone or other fill material, supporting aninclined network of conventional drain tile 16 containing accessopenings. Usually the conduit system is well below the top of the sumpor reservoir tank, which customarily is flush with the concrete deck D.Exterior conduit 16' (phantom lines) may be incorporated in a systemaccording to this invention as well as interior conduit 16.

According to the method of the present invention, the above describedsystem is reverse filled after being well drained of water andpreferably during dry weather. The sump pump is first disabled, as byturning off the electric supply at a switch 18, thereby disabling thesecond conduit section including the sump receptacle and the dischargeconduit 26.

Next, the sump is filled to a predetermined level with a fluid pesticide20. Preferably, one of the low-toxicity pesticides is used, but any ofthe ordinary preparations such as a 1 percent by volume water emulsionof chlordane, a /2 percent water emulsion of dieldrin, or the like, maybe employed. A reversible pump 22 and container 24 or other conventionalmeans may be used for the purpose. 1

The predetermined level to which the sump is filled is preferably nearthe top, and the level is preferably maintained by replenishment, asrequired, until the system has been filled to the greatest extendpossible and has had opportunity to saturate soil in the vicinity of thedrainage system, forming a barrier 20 by direct flow and by capillaryaction.

System capacity can be determined for purposes of this invention in thegeneral case by the rate of flow out of the sump or tank reservoir underthe head of pesticide provided as measured against time. Successivereplenishments will in the normal case require longer times to drain.Normally, the drainage system lies at a fixed distance from the buildingwalls and is, at the highest point, as low as or lower than the footing.The system depth can be verified by probing.

Following saturation of the system it is drained, as by reversing pump22, and preferably stored for reuse. Any sediment is preferably screenedout.

FIG. 2 illustrates the method of this invention in use at a buildinghaving no sump. As indicated, in such circumstances the first conduitportion 210 communicates with the second conduit portion 226 whichdrains downhill into a dry well, storm drain, or the like.

According to the present invention all or a portion of the pipe isblocked as by a valve installation at 218, and a simple standpipe 232,communicating with the blocked portion, is installed adjacent the valveand in communication with the first conduit portion.

Pesticide fluid is then introduced via pump 225 and pumping line 228into the blocked portion through the standpipe to a level sufficient tofill the drainage system 210. Preferably, pesticide fluid is added tomaintain the level in the standpipe during the filling to assureexpression of the fluid from the system when the system is filled.

When the filling is complete and a barrier 220' is formed, the pesticideis drained or pumped out of the system for re-use after removal offoreign material such as sediment, preferably.

As an additional feature, a second standpipe 234 may be disposeddownstream of valve 218 to provide means of cleanout of the downhilldrain portion by powerflushing with water.

In either of the embodiments described the system may be sealed at thepesticide fluid introduction point and may be filled under pumppressure. In FIG. 2 this arrangement is illustrated, fluid being pumpedfrom container 224 by pump 225 through sealing nozzle 236 and standpipe232 into the system.

Level of saturation may be determined by observing the fluid level in aperforate pipe 238 vertically inserted at a suitable location adjacentthe system being backflushed.

Obviously other modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. For example, in a thirdembodiment (not shown) where the second conduit section merelyconstitutes a gravity discharge conduit leading from the porous firstconduit section that at least partially surrounds the foundation, thesecond conduit section is disabled by connecting a source of liquidpesticide to the outlet thereof, whereupon the pesticide is introducedinto the first conduit section by reverse flow through the secondconduit section. According to another embodiment (not shown), the secondconduit portion is not disabled, the pesticide fluid being supplieddirectly into the first conduit portion (for examplefvia a pipe driventhrough the fill material and through an opening formed thereby in thefirst conduit portion) under sufficient pressure to force the pesticidefluid outwardly from the first conduit portion via the access openingsthereof into the fill material.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of dispersing fluid pesticide to form a pesticide barrieradjacent the foundation of a building having a preexisting footingdrainage system, said drainage system including a first conduit portioncontaining access openings and arranged in fill material adjacent thebuilding foundation, and a second conduit portion for normallydischarging fluid from said first conduit portion, which comprises thestep of introducing into the first conduit portion a quantity of fluidpesticide at sufficient pressure to force said fluid pesticide outwardlyfrom said first conduit portion via said access openings into said fillmaterial. 2. The method as defined in claim 1, and further including thestep of disabling the second conduit portron.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the pesticide introducingstep includes introducing the pesticide under pressure into said firstconduit portion at a location adjacent the second conduit portion.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the foot ing drainagesystem includes a normally open valve connected between the first andsecond conduit sections; and further wherein the step of disabling thesecond conduit section comprises closing said valve.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said second conduit portionincludes a gravity drain pipe, and further wherein said drainage systemincludes a vertical standpipe connected at its lower end with said firstconduit portion adjacent said valve; and further wherein the step ofintroducing said pesticide into said first conduit means comprisessupplying the liquid pesticide to the upper end of said standpipe.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said second conduit portionhas an outlet;

and further wherein the steps of disabling said second conduit portionand supplying fluid pesticide to said first conduit portion comprisesconnecting a source of the fluid pesticide to the outlet of said secondconduit portion, whereby the pesticide is supplied to the first conduitportion via said second conduit portion. 7. The method of dispersingfluid pesticide to form a pesticide barrier adjacent the foundation of abuilding having a preexisting footing drainage system, said drainagesystem including first conduit means containing access openings andarranged in fill material adjacent the building foundation, a sumpreceptacle connected with said first conduit means for alternatelyreceiving fluid from and for supplying fluid to said first conduitmeans, second conduit means for discharging fluid, and normallyactivated sump pump means for normally pumping fluid from said sumpreceptacle into said second conduit means, which includes the steps ofa. disabling said second conduit means by deactivating said sump pumpmeans; and g b. introducing into said first conduit means a quantity offluid pesticide at sufficient pressure to force said fluid pesticideoutwardly from said first conduit means via said access openings intosaid fill material, said fluid pesticide being introduced into saidfirst conduit means by supplying to said sump receptacle a'sufficientquantity of pesticide fluid at sufficient pressure to cause saidpesticide to enter said first conduit portion and to be discharged fromthe access openings thereof.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, and further including the step ofreplenishing the quantity of fluid pesticide in the sump receptacle tomaintain the level thereof sufficient to produce a pressure head whichcauses the pesticide to enter said first conduit means and to bedischarged from the access openings thereof. l =l l

1. The method of dispersing fluid pesticide to form a pesticide barrieradjacent the foundation of a building having a preexisting footingdrainage system, said drainage system including a first conduit portioncontaining access openings and arranged in fill material adjacent thebuilding foundation, and a second conduit portion for normallydischarging fluid from said first conduit portion, which comprises thestep of introducing into the first conduit portion a quantity of fluidpesticide At sufficient pressure to force said fluid pesticide outwardlyfrom said first conduit portion via said access openings into said fillmaterial.
 2. The method as defined in claim 1, and further including thestep of disabling the second conduit portion.
 3. The method as definedin claim 2, wherein the pesticide introducing step includes introducingthe pesticide under pressure into said first conduit portion at alocation adjacent the second conduit portion.
 4. The method as recitedin claim 2, wherein the footing drainage system includes a normally openvalve connected between the first and second conduit sections; andfurther wherein the step of disabling the second conduit sectioncomprises closing said valve.
 5. The method as recited in claim 4,wherein said second conduit portion includes a gravity drain pipe, andfurther wherein said drainage system includes a vertical standpipeconnected at its lower end with said first conduit portion adjacent saidvalve; and further wherein the step of introducing said pesticide intosaid first conduit means comprises supplying the liquid pesticide to theupper end of said standpipe.
 6. The method as recited in claim 2,wherein said second conduit portion has an outlet; and further whereinthe steps of disabling said second conduit portion and supplying fluidpesticide to said first conduit portion comprises connecting a source ofthe fluid pesticide to the outlet of said second conduit portion,whereby the pesticide is supplied to the first conduit portion via saidsecond conduit portion.
 7. The method of dispersing fluid pesticide toform a pesticide barrier adjacent the foundation of a building having apreexisting footing drainage system, said drainage system includingfirst conduit means containing access openings and arranged in fillmaterial adjacent the building foundation, a sump receptacle connectedwith said first conduit means for alternately receiving fluid from andfor supplying fluid to said first conduit means, second conduit meansfor discharging fluid, and normally activated sump pump means fornormally pumping fluid from said sump receptacle into said secondconduit means, which includes the steps of a. disabling said secondconduit means by deactivating said sump pump means; and b. introducinginto said first conduit means a quantity of fluid pesticide atsufficient pressure to force said fluid pesticide outwardly from saidfirst conduit means via said access openings into said fill material,said fluid pesticide being introduced into said first conduit means bysupplying to said sump receptacle a sufficient quantity of pesticidefluid at sufficient pressure to cause said pesticide to enter said firstconduit portion and to be discharged from the access openings thereof.8. The method as recited in claim 7, and further including the step ofreplenishing the quantity of fluid pesticide in the sump receptacle tomaintain the level thereof sufficient to produce a pressure head whichcauses the pesticide to enter said first conduit means and to bedischarged from the access openings thereof.